My DH and I (and kids) moved from a town we'd lived for 14 years. A few months before we moved I began chewing ice. It's become so bad that I crave it. I eat it in the shower, take it with me in huge mugs in the van....I just LOVE ice.
Well, a couple of days ago I went to my pre-op appointment at the hospital and later that day I received a call from my doctor. He said my iron was so dangerously low that I need to have a blood transfusion before surgery. They also want me to have a stress test because my EKG showed something funny. I'm scared to have a transfusion....I just don't trust that EVERYTHING is tested and that 10 years down the road I won't be suffering from something they didn't think they had to test for.
Anyway, I looked up 'chewing ice and low iron' on Google and came across this site. My doctor didn't even ask about my Pica habits. Oh, and another craving I have is eating dried oatmeal. I can eat it by the cup full many times a day. (Started right after we moved.) A sure sign that something is wrong....but we didn't realize iron was the reason.
I'm suppose to go in for a hysterectomy on Tuesday......but the transfusion has to happen first on Monday. The doctor knows of my concerns and said he could give me a high does of estrogen to stop my next cycle, spend a month or so getting my iron levels up, and then do surgery. I don't know what to do. I want to get this surgery over with.....but I have my other fears to contend with.
Thanks for listening,
Linda